BEN APPLESON played an influential role in Edinburgh Accies’ excellent attacking performance against Glasgow Hawks at Raeburn Place, including crucial contributions in the build-up to at least three of his team’s six tries, so he is selected at full-back this week.
Another Accies player in Mark Sinclair is on the left wing having scored two tries in that win over Hawks, while live-wire Callum McNeill of Selkirk also claimed a brace on the opposite touchline in his team’s crucial home win over Aberdeen Grammar. Honourable mentions to Hawick pair Morgan Tait and Ronan McKean who both took their try tallies for the season up to six.
Ryan Southern and DJ Innes were at the heart of everything as Currie Chieftains ran riot against Musselburgh. On his return from a spell providing injury cover to Watsonians in Super6, Joe Reynolds made a big impact off the bench for Mark Cairns’ side, so competition for places in the Malleny midfield is going to fascinating during the second half of the season.
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Gregor Hunter was as classy as ever for stand-off for the new league-leaders, Jamie Loomes was very good for Edinburgh Accies, Liam Brims also showed up well for Glasgow Hawks, and Sam Knudson posed a threat working on famine rations for Aberdeen Grammar at Philiphaugh, but Kirk Ford gets the No10 jersey this week for pulling the strings and kicking the crucial points as Hawick blew the championship race open with an excellent home win over Marr. Selkirk’s Jack Hamilton is at scrum-half.
Shawn Muir‘s continued his comeback from injury with 60 big minutes at loose-head for Hawick against Marr, and his return to the side, alongside Andrew Mitchell coming back after a stint in Super6, has clearly boosted the Borderers. Istok Totic took his try well and battled hard for Glasgow Hawks in a losing cause at Raeburn Place so is named at hooker just ahead of Selkirk’s James Bett, Hawick’s Matty Carryer and Callum Black of Accies. Meanwhile, Chieftains youngster Gregor Scougall played well again at tight-head in a dominant home scrum which did not always get the rewards it deserved.
Rhys Davies once again commands a second-row slot, linking up with Callum Marshall of Selkirk this week, while the hard-working Jake Mills of Edinburgh Accies can consider himself unlucky to have missed out.
Academy prospect Rory Jackson showed up well at blindside as Marr came up short at Mansfield, while the battle for the open-side slot was ferocious with Fergus Scott‘s all-action, two-try performance more than enough to earn selection on any other day, but on this occasion it is Stuart Graham‘s contribution to Hawick’s win over Marr which edges it.
And it was equally fierce at No8, where Jae Linton was excellent again for Hawick, and Lewis McNamara scored a couple of tries and led the way from Hawks, but Ru Campbell of Edinburgh Accies edges it for his leadership and decision-making.
15. Ben Appleson (Edinburgh Accies)
14. Callum McNeill (Selkirk)
13. Ryan Southern (Currie Chieftains)
12. DJ Innes (Currie Chieftains)
11. Mark Sinclair (Edinburgh Accies)
10. Kirk Ford (Hawick)
9. Jack Hamilton (Selkirk)
1. Shawn Muir (Hawick)
2. Istok Totic (Glasgow Hawks)
3. Gregor Scougall (Currie Chieftains)
4. Rhys Davies (Currie Chieftains)
5. Callum Marshall (Selkirk)
6. Rory Jackson (Marr)
7. Stuart Graham (Hawick)
8. Ruairi Campbell (Edinburgh Accies)